Chesterton Academy of Saint Padre Pio

What it reported doing in 2024

Chesterton Academy of St. Padre Pio opened doors in August 2024, welcoming the inaugural class with offerings for ninth and tenth grades. The fiscal year spanning July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 marked our first year of operation and was a year of many significant milestones. Among the highlights was the first Fine Arts Night, an evening that showcased student learning in art, drama, dance, and music-cornerstones of our curriculum. Parents were especially struck by what their children accomplished, particularly students who might not ordinarily choose to perform on stage. The growth in character, confidence, and self-expression was remarkable to witness. Hosting such an event in a school's first year was also a noteworthy achievement within the Chesterton Schools Network. Academically, several students earned top honors on the National Latin Exam and performed well on the national Classical Learning Test. Despite being in the inaugural year, several universities visited the school to meet with the students, a testament to the strong national reputation of Chesterton Academies. The school also successfully met all operational expenses through fundraising efforts, drawing support from both large and small donors throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. These generous benefactors share the belief in the mission and recognized the value of offering a Catholic classical education in the community. As the fiscal year came to a close, CASPP reflected carefully on both the successes and areas for improvement and immediately began implementing changes to strengthen operations and support continued growth. The school looks ahead with gratitude and hope, confident that the year to come will bear abundant fruit through these efforts.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 81.7%; rating input score 82
• Program expense ratio: 72.1%; rating input score 72
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.87 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -13.6%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.08; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.1%; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: 109.6% per year; rating input score 100; 99th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -88.3% per year; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings